The 2009 Zinfandel Reserve is a single vineyard zin aged for 14 months in a mixture of French and American oak. Sharp, tart and high toned, this does show some power, together with rather sweet, candied notes. It was hard to warm up to this, and I found my mouth wrinkling a few times, which is too bad because I rather liked its backbone and ideas. Perhaps a little time will help it out. Drink now-2017. Importer: Royal Wine Corp., Bayonne, N.J.; tel: (718) 534-0118.

Ripe, with smoky overtones to the dried cherry and pemmican flavors. Kosher. Drink now. 200 cases imported.??–KM??Region: Israel / Galilee Select to Add

The 2007 ZINFANDEL RESERVE, a single vineyard wine from the Lower Galilee, was aged for 14 months in a mixture of French and American oak. The oak gives it a creamy texture, and while there are some briars and brambles underneath, the fruit is modestly concentrated. This is ultimately fairly pleasant, if undistinguished, tasty at times, but fading fast in the mouth. Although it shows no signs of decay at the moment, I’d drink this on the younger side to make the most of its fruity character. The alcohol is only 14%, but there is an occasional alcoholic burst. Drink now-2014. Binyamina is one of Israel’s larger and older wine producers. The Chosen brand wines reviewed this issue are denominated with the gemstones chosen (onyx, diamond, sapphire, etc.), according to the winery, for the "breastplate of the High Priest during the time of the Second Temple.” The 2007 releases are nicely done as a group. Note: Although Binyamina does have a USA importer, all releases do not always appear and not always at the same time, necessarily, in our marketplace. As of this writing, it is not clear, for instance, if the late harvest gewurztraminer will be imported, and the 2006 releases in some labels were still current in this marketplace with ‘07s not yet available.Importer: Royal Wine Corp., Bayonne, N.J.; tel: (718) 534-0118.